Leafs try to gain a measure of revenge against Hurricanes

(Sports Network) - The Toronto Maple Leafs have been on a bit of a scoring
surge since losing to Carolina over a week ago. On Thursday, they try to exact
a measure of revenge when they visit the Hurricanes at PNC Arena.

Since dropping back-to-back games to Boston and Carolina, the Maple Leafs have
reeled off four straight wins, while outscoring their opponents 17-6 in that
stretch.

Toronto matched its longest winning streak since Jan. 3-10, 2012 on Monday, as
Ben Scrivens stopped 32-of-33 shots he faced and Colton Orr netted the game
winner to help the Maple Leafs beat Philadelphia, 5-2, at Air Canada Centre.

Scrivens was called upon at the four-minute mark of the second period when
starter James Reimer left with a lower-body injury after 12 stops. He allowed
just a Tye McGinn marker with 32 seconds left in regulation.

Matt Frattin and Clarke MacArthur also tallied in the deciding frame for the
Maple Leafs, who were coming off a 6-0 demolition of the Habs in Montreal. A
win on Thursday would give them their first five-game tear since Jan. 27-Feb.
6, 2007.

"I think our whole team did a fantastic job out there tonight," said Frattin.
"Especially Scrivvy (Scrivens) taking over back there after Jimmy (Reimer)
left. He was solid for us tonight and it was another good win."

Scrivens will be in net again, as Reimer will be sidelined for a week or so
with a strained knee ligament. Toronto will also be without Frattin, who needs
a procedure on his surgically repaired knee and be out at least a week.

"He had an issue with the MCL that was corrected and this is something that
flared up and it's not something the doctors feel will be long term," coach
Randy Carlyle said. "He will have the procedure here in the next 24 hours and
we'll see when he is back and made available to us."

Carolina, meanwhile, is the last team to beat the Leafs and is 4-0-1 in its
last five games. On Tuesday, Jiri Tlusty scored a pair of third-period goals
to break a tie game, as the Hurricanes stopped the New Jersey Devils' five-
game win streak with a 4-2 victory at the Prudential Center.

Tlusty, who racked up two goals and two assists to spark a final-period rally
in Monday's 6-4 triumph over the New York Islanders, netted the eventual game-
winner on the power play with 12:35 remaining before adding an empty-netter in
the waning seconds to help the Hurricanes close out a successful six-game road
trip.

Eric Staal assisted on both of Tlusty's markers and Cam Ward made 26 saves for
Carolina, which also received goals from Jussi Jokinen and Patrick Dwyer.

The 4-1-1 stretch outside of Raleigh marked the team's best trip of that
length since going 5-1-0 from Feb. 7-March 8, 1998. Carolina will play three
of its next four at home where it is 2-2-0 this season.

"It's been a long trip, 12 days, and to finish against the first-place Devils
and walk away with two points is a huge confidence-builder to our team," said
Ward.

Staal has managed to score all of his eight goals and eight assists during his
10-game points streak, while all five of Tlusty's tallies have come in the
last three games.

The Hurricanes beat the Leafs back on Feb. 4 and have won four of five and
nine of the last 12 meetings.